DEBRA HERE AGAIN. LAST WEEK I LINKED TO AN ARTICLE in which the author suggests that computer operators be licensed... for security, of course.

Surprise, surprise. Today anotherarticle has come out, citing a study that suggests "the ubiquitous reach of Microsoft Corp.'s software on desktops worldwide has made computer networks a national security risk susceptible to 'massive, cascading failures.' " (The study, incidentally, was funded by CCIA, a group of whiney MS competitors which sues Bill G & Co. on a regular basis).

Note the key term national security risk. That's code for we're planning to regulate the living daylights out of it.

Note too who is gestating these types of articles: private citizens. It always starts that way, you see. That gives the FedGov plausible deniability. "The government isn't asking for more regulation...noooo...it's the people who want more regulation. The gov is only responding to a demand."

Mark my words: you'll see a lot more of this over the coming months and years. More calls for regulation. More "terrorist" incidents involving computers. Massive communication breakdowns due to sophisticated viruses (the authors of which will never be caught).

Our Fearless Leaders will reluctantly agree to monitor, limit, inspect, control, and legislate our computer use ... and secretly breathe a sigh of relief that they've managed to pop that pesky free-flow-of-information genie back into its bottle.